Financial mechanism under the Convention

Taking note of the report of the Global Environment Facility(31), and the Second Overall Performance Study of the Global Environment Facility(30),

Taking note also of the compilation of past guidance to the financial mechanism(33), the executive summary(34) and the final report of the independent evaluator commissioned for purposes of the second review of the effectiveness of the financial mechanism(35),

Noting with satisfaction the strong and growing collaboration established between the secretariats of the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Global Environment Facility,

Welcoming the strong support for a substantial third replenishment of the Global Environment Facility, expressed by both developing and developed countries at the sixth meeting of the Conference of the Parties,

Notes the strong support expressed by developing countries, in particular the least developed and the small island developing States amongst them, and countries with economies in transition, as well as developed countries, for assistance from the Global Environment Facility in the implementation of the Convention;

Noting the importance of the Small Grants Programme of the Global Environment Facility, welcomes its continued expansion to other developing countries, in particular the least developed countries and the small island developing States;

Noting the efforts of the Global Environment Facility in providing financial resources to Parties with economies in transition for biodiversity-related projects, welcomes the continuation of these efforts;

Reiterates the call to the Global Environment Facility for improving and further streamlining its processes for increased flexibility and improving access to resources from the Global Environment Facility, taking into consideration the findings included in the Second Overall Performance Study of the Global Environment Facility and the second review of the effectiveness of the financial mechanism;

Requests the Global Environment Facility to consider the benefits to Parties, particularly small island developing States, of an appropriate balance between national and regional projects in the implementation of decisions of the Conference of the Parties;

Requests the Global Environment Facility, in consultation with the Executive Secretary and other multilateral and bilateral organizations, to explore funding modalities for facilitating the preparation of future national reports and thematic reports from Parties, taking into account the comments made by Parties on their experience in accessing relevant funds during the sixth meeting of the Conference of the Parties as well as the recommendations included in the second Overall Performance Study of the GEF and the second review of the effectiveness of the financial mechanism;

Requests the Global Environment Facility, in consultation with the Executive Secretary of the Convention, to initiate a dialogue to more effectively implement the guidance to the financial mechanism, drawing from the experiences and lessons learned from projects and programmes funded by the Global Environment Facility, and explore opportunities for streamlining the guidance;

Requests the Global Environment Facility, in its plan of action to respond to the Second Overall Performance Study, to take into consideration the recommendations of the second review of the effectiveness of the financial mechanism, and to report to the Conference of the Parties on how it has done so;

Requests the Executive Secretary and the Global Environment Facility to explore possible synergies between the review processes of the Convention and the Global Environment Facility, and make suggestions on the arrangements for the third review of the effectiveness of the financial mechanism;

Decides to provide the following additional guidance to the Global Environment Facility in the provision of financial resources, in accordance with Article 20 and Article 21, paragraph 1 of the Convention and in conformity with decisions I/2, II/6, III/5, IV/13 and V/13 of the Conference of the Parties. In this regard, the Global Environment Facility shall provide financial resources to developing countries Parties, taking into account the special needs of the least developed countries and the small island developing States amongst them, for country-driven activities and programmes, consistent with national priorities and objectives, recognizing that economic and social development and poverty eradication are the first and overriding priorities of developing countries, and taking fully into consideration all relevant decisions from the Conference of the Parties. The Global Environment Facility as the institutional structure operating the financial mechanism should provide financial resources:

As a priority, for the elaboration, development, and revision as necessary, of national biodiversity strategies and action plans, and for activities which assist their implementation consistent with guidance to the Global Environment Facility from the Conference of the Parties;

For national capacity-building in biosafety, in particular for enabling effective participation in the Biosafety Clearing-House and in the implementation of the Action Plan for Building Capacities for the Effective Implementation of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety proposed by the Intergovernmental Committee on Cartagena Protocol at its second meeting, and for other needs identified in the recommendations of the Intergovernmental Committee at its second meeting for assisting developing countries to prepare for the entry into force of the Protocol;

For country-driven projects focusing on the identified national priorities, as well as regional and international actions that assist the implementation of the expanded work programme considering conservation of biological diversity, sustainable use of its components and fair and equitable sharing of the benefits from genetic resources in a balanced way, underscoring the importance of ensuring long-term conservation, sustainable use, and benefit-sharing of native forests;

For country-driven capacity-building activities by developing country Parties, in particular, least developed countries and small island developing States among them, for the implementation of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation;

For country-driven activities aimed at enhancing capabilities to address the impacts of mortality related to coral bleaching and physical degradation and destruction of coral reefs, including developing rapid response capabilities to implement measures to address coral-reef degradation, mortality and subsequent recovery;

For national and regional taxonomic capacity-building, as a basis for implementing the programme of work for the Global Taxonomy Initiative, with particular attention to funding country-driven pilot projects identified under the Global Taxonomy Initiative, taking into consideration the special needs of least developed countries and small island developing States;

For projects that assist with the implementation of the Plan of Action for the International Initiative for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Pollinators by developing country Parties, in particular, least developed countries and small island developing States;

To build capacity of developing country Parties, in particular least developed countries and small island developing States, to participate effectively in the preparatory process for the first Report on the State of World's Animal Genetic Resources;

For projects that assist with the implementation of the programme of work on biological diversity of inland water ecosystems;

For projects that assist with the implementation of the programme of work on incentive measures, taking into consideration the specific circumstances of countries, in particular, least developed countries and small island developing States;

As a priority, for projects that assist with the development and implementation, at national and regional levels, of the invasive alien species strategies and action plans called for in paragraph 6 of decision V/8, in particular those strategies and actions related to geographically and evolutionarily isolated ecosystems, paying particular attention to the needs of least developed countries and small island developing States, including needs related to capacity-building;

In a timely manner, to eligible Parties for the preparation of national reports;

For projects that assist with the implementation of the Action Plan on Capacity-building for Access and Benefit-sharing in support of the implementation of the Bonn Guidelines on Access to Genetic Resources and Fair and Equitable Sharing of the Benefit Arising out of their Utilization;

For the enhancement of national capacities for the establishment and maintenance of mechanisms to protect traditional knowledge at national and subnational levels, and for building the capacity of indigenous and local communities to develop strategies and systems for the protection of traditional knowledge;

For capacity development and country-driven projects prioritized in the Global Initiative on Communication, Education and Public Awareness;

Requests the Global Environment Facility to report on the implementation of the present decision to the Conference of the Parties at its seventh meeting.